In the three kingdoms of Mytica, magic has long been forgotten. And while hard-won peace has reigned for centuries, a deadly unrest now simmers below the surface.
As the rulers of each kingdom grapple for power, the lives of their subjects are brutally transformed... and four key players, royals and rebels alike, find their fates forever intertwined. Cleo, Jonas, Lucia, and Magnus are caught in a dizzying world of treacherous betrayals, shocking murders, secret alliances, and even unforeseen love.
The only outcome that's certain is that kingdoms will fall. Who will emerge triumphant when all they know has collapsed?
It's the eve of war.... Choose your side.
Princess: Raised in pampered luxury, Cleo must now embark on a rough and treacherous journey into enemy territory in search of magic long thought extinct.
Rebel: Jonas, enraged at injustice, lashes out against the forces of oppression that have kept his country cruelly impoverished. To his shock, he finds himself the leader of a people's revolution centuries in the making.
Sorceress: Lucia, adopted at birth into the royal family, discovers the truth about her past—and the supernatural legacy she is destined to wield.
Heir: Bred for aggression and trained to conquer, firstborn son Magnus begins to realise that the heart can be more lethal than the sword...
***
"Good fortune will find those with pure hearts, even when all seems lost."
God, I should have really read Falling Kingdoms since the very beginning! It's so freaking awesome! I've never read a book with four people's fate intertwining into one, but that's certain a fantastic beginning! Of course, there is one big flaw in the book, but other than that, there's nothing not to love. I'm completely captivated by the world and the story.
The biggest flaw in the book is that the book doesn't start getting interesting until almost halfway through the book, which can be very destructive, since most would've closed the book already. But once you get past that point, you will see the importance of it. The first half of the book is a build-up of the second half, where everything starts to unfurl and is put into action. And damn, wasn't that a fine plot. I had a hard time imagining four young people playing a vital part in the story, but I'm proved wrong. It is possible, and it's beautifully written. Of course, I would like more twists and turns in the book, but it's good enough.
Cleo plays a major part in Falling Kingdoms, along with Magnus. Cleo is an awesome person. It doesn't mean that she always makes good decisions though. But she learns from her mistakes and tries her best to fix the problem. She's definitely not afraid to stand up to someone who means her harm and sacrifice herself for the people she loves. That's more of a typical heroine trait, but for some reason, it's natural on Cleo. She's definitely my favorite character in the series so far (I'm reading Rebel Spring now and it's still true). Magnus is more complex than Cleo. Raised by The King of Blood, he thinks he's as cold as he can be. But you will see a lot of scenes where Magnus is actually a kind-hearted person. Of course, there will be a major turn of things for Magnus later on in the book. But Magnus is definitely a well-developed character and I believe he, along with Cleo, will also play an exceptionally big part of the story.
Jonas and Lucia is another story. Unlike Cleo and Magnus, they are not exactly the major player in Falling Kingdoms. Of course, that will change later on in the story. Jonas is hard to like in the first book. I'm not saying that he has no admirable traits. In fact, there are quite a lot. He's smart-mouthed and has great endurance. He makes a potentially awesome character (which is exactly the case in Rebel Spring). But he seeks vengeance, practically craves for it. It's hard to blame him when the cause of his revenge is that someone close to him dies by the royals' hands. Being exceptionally vengeful though, is the cause of everyone's demise. His attitude is not exactly welcoming either, so he makes a rough character. Lucia is more of a background character in this book. It's not like she's not a big part of the story. In fact she's the trigger, if I might say. But her character development is lacking. All I know about her in the first book is 1) she's a sorceress 2) she's nice enough 3) she cares for her adopted family deeply. That doesn't make much of a character. I hope she will get more complex in the upcoming books.
The book is set in an imaginary world of Mytica (at least, that's what I thought until I saw the blurb of A Book of Spirit and Thieves). Damn, wasn't that beautiful. It's definitely not as vivid as that in Throne of Glass. But I can actually feel the magical vibe just by reading the words. The background world is so well-set that it's perfect for the story. Three sides in the story, and none of them are good in the usual sense. Oh, this story is going to be very complex. I'm loving Rebel Spring already, and I'm not even halfway through.
If you are seeking a book where you can lose yourself into, this is definitely one you should go for.
Rating: 8/10
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